Romano reporting that we are close to signing Kelly & Tosin. I usually start believing rumours more when he reports them.
Are they any good ? I honestly can't say I've watched them much. I guess they must be better than lascelles and dummett ?
They're upgrades - Tosin on Schar, but Kelly's really on a par with Burn. Certainly wouldn't want that to be our LB investment, though suspect it is. Sesko could end up at Arsenal rather than Man U. If I was Man U, I'd be selling Rashford and getting Osimhen. Certainly we aren't getting either.
Kelly is surely better than ? I did watch him play once or twice since we were linked and he was getting forward and causing problems...I can't base much of one or two games though.
My concern is Kelly is very similar to Burn - a tall LB/LCB. Why concern? Because when we’ve played the 22/23 tactics this season, we’ve been found out. Forest, Bournemouth, Everton, Luton, Brighton have beaten us comfortably when we’ve tried to do many of the same things and a part of that tactic, allegedly, is playing a LCB at LB. I don’t quite know why, I’ve never seen anything on the pitch that really explains why it’s important, and this season has seen some abysmal results trying to repeat the 22/23 success. Is Kelly evolution or just a younger version of what we have? He’s no Theo Hernandez!! I almost threw up on Saturday when Almirón and Bruno tried that one two that hasn’t worked in 2 years. We need to evolve and my concern with Howe is he just sticks with what he knows.
I think we have to accept were entering a few years of wheeling and dealing. The initial outlay was a boost and now the clubs in a position to attract a few good players on frees which is very encouraging. I'm hoping Newcastle keep their best players and manage to offload the likes of Wilson Almiron and Longstaff for reasonable fees and that they bring in one or two first 11 players on top of the frees and what is already here. Thank God we haven't still got Ritchie and Dummett at left back.
I don’t disagree. These free players are good, especially Tosin. It immediately means we can see less of Krafth, Lascelles, Burn (at LB), Dummett and maybe even the back of two of those plodders. Tonali returning should mean less Longstaff, though I hope as you do those three are sold, too unreliable and crap. We need to spend well on RW and CF (or get someone who can adapt to both?) and probably a GK and a dedicated DM, to allow us to be more solid against better sides. Something I do really like about the two free players is it lines us up to switch to a back 3, something that’s been successful but used far too infrequently. Really big couple of games and an even bigger summer. With Southgate being Man U manager, Klopps exit, Ange being too obstinate and the pending issues for City, it’s a chance for us to consolidate and really cement top 4. Arteta’s Arsenal will be the big one for a few years, some incredible players all quite young.
We do seem to have moved from the CB at LB recently but to be fair Burn was LB in wins over PSG, Arsenal, Villa, Wolves and Fulham and wasn’t v Brighton btw so we’ve hardly been “found out” or “abysmal” using that tactic. Have to say though I prefer a more orthodox LB. Kelly is far quicker and more agile than Burn but only 5ft 10 so not exactly commanding at CB.
Here’s a bet. I bet black is darker than white. Chaos: okay, I’ll take that bet that emails are quicker than Royal Mail everyone else: what the ****s he talking about?
To be honest, it goes to 9 a side and offside comes into play and most on here would struggle without commentary and computer graphics to enhance their matchday viewing
